Here's my quick summary of the key overnight news you need to start your day.
Firstly from the US, private sector jobs rose by 215,000 in December according to an early unofficial report. This is stronger than was expected.
US car sales were also strong. In 2012 they rose 10% in December to make 2012 the best year since 2007. And despite some early indications the holiday season would be average, retail sales look like they will actually show reasonable growth of +3.3%, although this is not evenly spread. These reports all bolster last weeks reported rise in American consumer confidence.
Also recent manufacturing reports in the US have been quite strong too. Today Boeing reported its 2012 deliveries and orders and it appears to have regained the bragging rights as the world's biggest planemaker, a title Airbus has previously held for 10 years.
In Europe there are more positive signs of a pick-up. The rise in German unemployment slowed, below expectations. And in Spain, funds appear to be flowing into that nation's banks, which is a reversal of trends in mid 2012. Perhaps these aren't really 'positive signs', just not-as-negative signs.
In Australia, it is clearly too early to call the end of the minerals boom. Australian miners are set to cash in on the resurgent iron ore price, with new statistics showing that a record volume of the commodity was exported out of Port Hedland in December.
The Commonwealth Bank's market capitalisation has risen above AU$100 billion for the first time, as the Australian share market closed to a new 19-month high on Thursday. The bank's shares rose by 52 cents to its highest-ever value of AU$63.24 as at the close of trading yesterday. The market cap for Australia's largest bank now stands at AU$101.8 billion (NZ$128.5 billion). We have previously reported that it had exceeded US$100 billion. Commonwealth Bank owns ASB and Sovereign in New Zealand. For perspective, NZ's nominal GDP in the year to September was NZ$208.3 billion.
US stocks have fallen in late trade after minutes from the Fed's FOMC showed rising concern about the risks of their policy of buying bonds to stimulate growth. This had an immediate impact on the currency.
The NZ$ starts the day at 83.2 USc and 79.2 AUc
The NZ$ is at 82.8 USc, 79 AUc and the TWI is at 74.6 as at 8:30am.
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